Bass Player: Dusty Hill

Joe Michael Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the bassist of the band ZZ Top. He also sang lead and backing vocals, and played keyboards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of ZZ Top in 2004. Hill played with the band for over 50 years; after his death, he was succeeded by the band’s longtime guitar Tech Elwood Francis, in line with Hill’s wishes. In no way a flashy player, Hill had an flawlessly solid presence that allowed guitarist Billy Gibbons to do his thing and give the band one of the most distinctive sounds in Rock music.

The bass part featured here is Dusty’s line for the tune ‘Shiek’ from the 1973 ZZ Top album, ‘Tres Hombres’. A great exercise for the beginner reader.